Mythos

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Mythos Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Stephen Fry (Author, Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 12,502 ratings
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Step into another world - of magic, mayhem, monsters and maniacal gods - in Stephen Fry's momentous Sunday Times and Audible best seller, Mythos.

Discover Stephen Fry's magnificent retelling of the greatest myths and legends ever told....

No one loves and quarrels, desires and deceives as boldly or brilliantly as Greek gods and goddesses.

In Stephen Fry's vivid retelling, we gaze in wonder as wise Athena is born from the cracking open of the great head of Zeus and follow doomed Persephone into the dark and lonely realm of the Underworld.

Shiver in fear when Pandora opens her jar of evil torments.

Listen with joy as the legendary love affair between Eros and Psyche unfolds.

Read by Stephen Fry himself, Mythos captures these extraordinary myths for our modern age - in all their dazzling and deeply human relevance.

If you're enthralled by the magic of Greek mythology you'll love Fry's follow-up books Heroes and Troy, with tales of mortals and monsters, quests and adventures.

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  1. Listening Length
    15 hours and 25 minutes
  2. Author
    Stephen Fry
  3. Narrator
    Stephen Fry
  4. Audible release date
    November 2, 2017
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B0718X6ZZ2
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 15 hours and 25 minutes
Author Stephen Fry
Narrator Stephen Fry
Audible.com Release Date November 02, 2017
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0718X6ZZ2
Best Sellers Rank #15,242 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#110 in Fairy Tale Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals)
#332 in Classic Literature
#617 in Folklore (Books)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
12,502 global ratings
A Solid Overview of Greek Myths
4 Stars
A Solid Overview of Greek Myths
Stephen Fry presents a unique alternative to the too often 'dry' presentation of Ancient Greek storytelling. It will soon come as no surprise within the first few pages that Mr. Fry doesn't hold back many comedic punches when showcasing his own brand of mythography. I would, however, encourage you not to be dissuaded by this. Fry does an excellent job presenting us with a 'chronological' narrative and attempts to add order to the vast labyrinth of names and locations. (The first time a new name is mentioned it is written in all BOLD text which I found quite helpful.) There are episodic examples of famous paintings and archaeologic discoveries peppered throughout the text to add a little more flavour and immersion to the tales. (I personally wish there were some more as every one given is a real treat!)The reduction of one star is simply due to the overall tone of the text. I personally found the comedic infusion to be refreshing, but I do know that many may be disappointed that it will more than likely lack the degree of solemnity they may be used to/looking for.
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Top reviews from the United States

JLC
5.0 out of 5 stars Kudos!
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2023
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I loved Greek myths when I was a child, but I was far along in life when I discovered that children's versions are REALLY sanitized. I had been meaning to read adult versions of the myths for years and when I found this one by Stephen Fry, I knew that I was in for a great romp from the Elysian Fields to the House of Hades. This is a very witty and compelling retelling of the exploits of the deities, with footnotes and side comments that indicate how much Greek mythology continues to inform our lives today. How marvelous it must have been to have lived in a world where no matter how ghastly you might have been in your life, it is not a patch on what the gods have done and where you are expected to fall in love with the beautiful no matter what sex or species. Some pedants have complained that Mr. Fry has been selective in the stories he presents, but frankly what he gives us is far more than we mere mortals can be expected to absorb and remember on our first journey into this strange and marvelous world.
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TapTheLine
5.0 out of 5 stars An awe-inspiring accomplishment by the great Stephen Fry.
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2020
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"Their myths understand that whoever created this baffling world, with its cruelties, wonders, caprices, beauties, madness and injustice, must themselves have been cruel, wonderful, capricious, beautiful, mad and unjust". The Greeks created gods that were in their image: warlike but creative, wise but ferocious, loving but jealous, tender but brutal, compassionate but vengeful". (Prologue)

Stephen Fry is one of the most versatile and multi-skilled artists of our time and his work as an author, actor, producer, director, presenter, etc, has won both critical acclaim and people's deep respect. From a man of this stature, one could expect nothing less than bold artistic creations that dare to approach grand themes and subjects through an innovative perspective. In Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold, Fry attempts to retell the Greek myths, in chronological order, beginning with the existence of the primordial Chaos -the Greek equivalent to the scientific "big bang" theory- and the birth of the first order of divine beings such as the Nychta, Erevos, Gaia, Ouranos, Eris,and many others. These primordial deities were called the Titans, the word meaning "the striving, straining one", and the most notorious of them was Cronos, the titan who conspired with his mother to kill his father, Ouranos, and thus became the first among them. Cronos is known to the masses for the fact that he ate his own children to remain the king of the universe, but he finally took a taste of his own medicine as his wife, Rhea, deceived him and kept her last child that was called Zeus. Zeus grew up in Crete, far away from his wicked, cruel father and when he was in the appropriate age took revenge on his father and dethroned him from his regal status.

As we are all well aware of Zeus was going to be the first among the twelve gods of Olympus, but this would not happen until this new order of divine entities, the second order, have removed once and for all the remaining titans from the face of the Cosmos. It should be mentioned that for ancient Greeks the word Cosmos meant what we call today the universe. What followed was a ten-year brutal war, an "earth-shattering conflict", known as the "Clash of the Titans" or "Titanomachy", and by the end of it, the Dodekatheon (meaning the twelve gods) was established as ruling the universe and everything in it. The new gods took the place of the titans through the use of excessive violence during the Titanomachy. Fry continues with the story of the creation of mankind by Zeus and the betrayal of Prometheus who stole fire and gave it to humanity as civilization. Zeus, enraged by Prometheus' treachery punished him severely as he was sentenced to eternal torment. Prometheus would be bound to a rock and each day an eagle would eat his liver which would then grow back only to be eaten again the next day. This process would continue ad infinitum. The reader can observe how the Greek perception of the creation of humanity shares many similarities with later religions like Christianism. One example would be seen as being created in the image of God both in Greek mythology and Christian tradition.

Furthermore, we learn about the creation of the first woman, named Pandora, and her infamous box that contained a vast number of human vices that would torture mankind for the centuries to come. The author then mentions the story of the god Eros and his relation with Psyche. It is worth noting that ancient Greeks had four different words for love: Agape, Eros, Storge, Filia and each one of them had a distinct meaning. Eros was the son of the two Olympian gods, Aphrodite and Ares. Psyche was a lavishly beautiful young woman, daughter of a king, who made Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sexuality, to become jealous of her due to her incredible attractiveness. Eros fell in love with her and took her with him in an enchanted place where everything was dazzling, but under one condition. Psyche was not allowed for any reason to see her lover. But, as it always happens in Greek mythology, Psyche was unable to resist the temptation of looking at her gorgeous partner and attempted to light a candle to see him as clearly as possible when he was sleeping beside her. The result was that Eros, devastated by Psyche's betrayal, flew away from her. It was only after the intervention of the first among the twelve gods, Zeus, that Aphrodite became convinced to accept Psyche as her bride. There are more captivating chapters on the complex relationships that formed between gods and humans, the divine punishments, the metamorphoses of mortals to animals either as torture or as an act of compassion, and the great Greek lesson about Hybris that can be boiled down in this sentence: how pride comes before a fall.

There are so many stories in this (mid-length) book that I was forced to incessantly keep notes during the reading. I have to admit that, even though I am a proud Greek, I remembered a tiny percentage of the stories cited in Mythos. In his foreword note, the author stresses his fascination with Greek myths as"the Greeks were the first people to make coherent narratives, a literature even of their gods, monsters and heroes"., even though their mythology is not the oldest in the world. The Greek gods owe a lot to the deities of Mesopotamia while the stories of Babylonians, Sumerians, and Akkadians preceded the Greek ones. Fry stresses out that his only intention is to simply retell the -already known- stories, and not to offer any kind of explanation or interpretation of their possible hidden meaning. There are some minor differentiations in their details, and Fry justifies himself by writing "in tinkering with the details I am doing what people have always done with myths". On another page, he quotes: "I think however that it is best told like all myths, not as an allegory, symbolic fable or metaphor, but as a story". Nevertheless, Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold attempts to establish a coherent timeline regarding the "ages of man" which is different from that of the Greek poet Hesiod who wrote the iconic Theogony. The readers who will read the book without skipping chapters will manage in the end to achieve some clarity regarding the chronological order of the genesis of both Cosmos, gods and mankind.

In conclusion, I have to admit that this was by far the most compelling book I've read the last twelve months -or even more- and I cordially recommend it to everyone who has specific -academic or other- interest in Greek antiquity, mythology, literary theory and so on. Mythos doesn't require any prior knowledge on the subject and as the author writes in his foreword note: "You don't need to know anything to read this book; it starts with an empty universe". Stephen Fry is one of the most brilliant artists today and if you are not familiar with his body of work, then you ought to check him out immediately. He has also written another book, Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures, which is a kind of continuation of Mythos as in that book, the author dives into the world of ancient Greek Heroes. Some claim that those two books should be read in a row and I'm seriously considering starting it at once.
49 people found this helpful
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Ky
4.0 out of 5 stars Great and entertaining way to understand Greek Mythology
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024
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I recently traveled to Greece and was blown away by how much I did not know about the Greek Mythology. This book is an easy and entertaining way to begin my own Greek Odyssey into the mythology. Highly entertaining!
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RDD
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Retelling of Ancient Greek Mythology!
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2022
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Stephen Fry’s “Mythos” retells ancient Greek mythology from the creation of the universe out of chaos through the stories of the Olympian Gods usurping the Titans to walk among men. Fry uses contemporary language to tell these stories, drawing upon multiple – often contradictory – sources, though he always indicates where he chose a certain version over another or how the allegories of the myths influenced language. It’s a great, readable version of these stories from classical antiquity infused with modern humor and suggested readings for further discovery. Fry brings the tales of the Olympian Gods to a contemporary audience in a way few have before outside of translations of single sources, like Emily Wilson’s translation of Homer’s “Odyssey,” or adaptations of specific stories, such as Madeline Miller’s “Circe.” This illustrated edition makes a great gift for those with an interest in myth or ancient history.
5 people found this helpful
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Michele
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2024
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Greek mythology has been a topic of interest for me for quite some time. Recently, I came across Stephen Fry's take on the myths, where he presented them in a fun and interesting way. His interpretation of how the myths played out was quite intriguing. I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook version, as Fry's storytelling skills were on full display. He put on different voices for each mythological character, making the experience all the more engaging.
3 people found this helpful
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Bill Breuer
5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece of narration and storytelling
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023
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Stephen Fry has been clearly blessed by the god of storytelling - perhaps his name is Mythos? He surpasses himself here. Do not read this book! You must listen to him tell it! 15 hours of pure pleasure.
4 people found this helpful
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Rhainz
4.0 out of 5 stars A treasure trove of Greek Mythology
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2023
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I have gobbled up myths since childhood. This collection is a scholarly retelling of well known and some lesser known myths. I especially enjoyed the addition of including current words that owe their genesis from the words from myth.
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Sam(E)
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
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It is like an entertaining textbook or encyclopedia. Absolutely loved it!!!
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Top reviews from other countries

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jikes
5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful read
Reviewed in Canada on August 7, 2021
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Stephen Fry is a great story teller. The mythology of Greece and the entertaining gods of Ancient Greece are brought to vivid life with Mr. Fry’s witty narrative. Enjoyable and charming.
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Victoria
4.0 out of 5 stars Bien relatado
Reviewed in Mexico on March 29, 2021
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una síntesis entretenida
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Guillaume Hansali
5.0 out of 5 stars Greek gods were a bunch of a**holes. That's why they're so relatable
Reviewed in Japan on December 22, 2021
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As a comedian and witty commentator with an unparalleled breadth of knowledge and command of the English language, Stephen Fry needs no introduction.
Not surprisingly, he happens to be a talented author with exquisite style.

An avid defender of freedom of Speech, Fry is an atheist and considers himself an empiricist. Empiricism is the idea that what we can know about the world is bonded to what we can observe. We sometimes see patterns within our observations and derive hypotheses that help us describe and, hopefully, predict natural phenomena. Empiricism is also about accepting that reason alone cannot explain everything; there are many things that we can predict with incredible accuracy but which still elude explanation.

So how can an empiricist like Fry explain his devotion to Greek mythology?

Because myths are narrative metaphors that teach us about human nature. They show us who we are at our worst and how we can be at our best.
Midas teaches us about the unintended consequences of our decisions;
Sisyphus's story is a masterclass in hubris, vanity, and the meaningless arrogance of believing that one can escape fate;
Prometheus' punishment is a symbol of the price of free will.

Speaking of metaphors, Greek gods are metaphorical archetypes.
They are not the perfect, idealized, all-powerful beings one can find in Judeo-Christian religions. They are divinely flawed and profoundly human, which make them relatable. By any standard, they are a bunch of a**holes. Loudly proud, petty, envious, unreasonably vengeful, and with a very nasty sense of humor, they painstakingly render our lives miserable and futile.

I guess that is one important lesson we can learn from Greek mythology; we may have free will, be decent people and work hard toward happiness, we will always be at the mercy of selfish gods (misfortune) and their agenda (entropy).

Fry's enthusiasm is palpable in his prose and will put a smile on your face.
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Angelica
2.0 out of 5 stars Entregado con abolladuras
Reviewed in Mexico on August 18, 2023
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El libro es realmente muy bueno, mi único problema es que se entregó con detalles estéticos como doblajes y abolladuras en capa y pasta. Podrían mejorar el empaquetado ya que no tenía ningún tipo de protección y se envió dentro de una bolsa de plástico.
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Angelica
2.0 out of 5 stars Entregado con abolladuras
Reviewed in Mexico on August 18, 2023
El libro es realmente muy bueno, mi único problema es que se entregó con detalles estéticos como doblajes y abolladuras en capa y pasta. Podrían mejorar el empaquetado ya que no tenía ningún tipo de protección y se envió dentro de una bolsa de plástico.
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Sushil Nair
4.0 out of 5 stars Storytelling at its best!!
Reviewed in India on July 1, 2022
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I liked the way the author connected all the myths in a timeline which is not just comprehensible but entertaining as well. The way he has explained the myths percolating in our every day lingo is another thing i loved about this book. All in all an entertaining and good read !!
5 people found this helpful
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